Mercifully, the Red Wings made sure we wouldn't have to endure any more Phoenix Coyotes' stories

Thank God, the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is over. After another stupidly long regular season, we just had to watch eight teams, who had no business being in the postseason, bumble their way through seven-game series. Now, only the elite eight are left to rightly challenge for the Cup. The others never should have been there (yes, that includes Washington). So it’s time to send a memo or two to each of the clubs that just got punted in the first round.

Hey, Ottawa fans – your Senators once again proved that their run to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final was just a one-off. You’re never, ever getting’ back there again with the goaltending you don’t have. And have never had. And Daniel Alfredsson…not only can he not lead you clowns to a Cup, he probably couldn’t organize a team outing to the nearest IKEA.

Hey, Lou Lamoriello – Marty’s done. Finito. He got the shutout record, then shut it down. Forever. He proved it by trying to play a summer Olympic sport (baseball) during the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. It’s time to give some playing time to an up-and-coming netminder in your system. Ooooops, just realized you don’t have one.

Hey, Buffalo – enough with the “Ryan Miller this” and “Ryan Miller that.” How about, “Ryan Miller’s never won anything outside the regular season.” Yep, that’s about right. Now Buffalonians will just have to sit around, freezing, until the Bills open camp in North Tonawanda…or some other forsaken place.

Hey, Bruce Boudreau – are you enjoying trying to coach the world’s best player? Not only is Ovi not the best in the world, he’s not even the best on your bench, buddy. Boy, he sure did a hell of a job captaining his Caps to the biggest tank job in the history of Presidents’ Trophy winners. Atta boy, Ovi.

Adiós, Los Angeles – you had a good chance, too. Because the Canucks should not be advancing to the second round (no matter, Chicago will make quick work of them). At least we don’t have to look at those ridiculous black jerseys with the oh-so-creative “LA” on the front. Hasta la vista.

Hey, Predators – are you a decent team or not? Nobody knows. You’ve had several pretty good regular seasons – but have never advanced past the first round. Pekka Rinne might be the answer. But your forwards are not. You have some studs on D, how about getting some up front?

Hey, Colorado – try this…don’t start the season like gangbusters, then do the old tank-er-oo. You had 22 points in October alone. What the hell happened? Start strongly, finish strongly and look like you deserve to be there. And when you have the biggest playoff wimps in the league on the ropes, finish them off!

And Phoenix fans (you know, the two of you who aren’t bandwagon jumpers) – enough with the “feel good” story of the year. You know what would feel good? Watching your club hop a plane back to Winnipeg – where they belong! It doesn’t matter how your team did, or will ever do, in the playoffs, you shouldn’t even have a team. The Arizona desert is for sand and scorpions, not hockey.

1 Response » to “The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is over – Thank God!”

Aside from my wife, and Bruce Boudreau, you gotta be the only person on the planet who didn’t love that opening round of the playoffs. I agree that the length of the regular season is a joke, but how can you not love the maelstrom of excitement that comes every April (and especially this one). Let’s face it, from here on out (unless your team is still alive) watching an NHL playoff game is almost a burden. Lots of things the NHL should change, but the first p/o round’s not one of ‘em.
One thing I have to agree with you on: the “Phoenix Pheel Good” story makes me want to phomit. We all know this team belongs in Winnipeg, or Saskatoon, or anywhere that you can’t tee-off in shorts on January 14th! The ‘Yotes success has only extended the agony — it’s a shame.